Many of us into points love Park Hyatt, since it’s a luxury brand that allows us to earn & redeem points, and take advantage of elite benefits. The Park Hyatt Marrakech has been in the works for a very long time, and has had a seemingly endless opening delay. There’s now an exciting update, as…
Continue reading: Park Hyatt Marrakech Now Open (Finally!)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Like so many other Hyatt properties, this one is inconveniently located. Pure and simple. Hyatt apologists will undoubtedly rationalize the property in similar fashion to the London Nine Elms location.
Another Hyatt that went up Category right before opening, have some decency, Hyatt.
PS - Ben's use of "Medina" implies "in town inside the wall" as opposed to directly in the Medina. Please cut Ben some slack and don't chime in wagging your finger.
Hey Ben … Unless you're hoping Hyatt invites you for a review, let me shed some light on what really drove the delayed opening of the Park Hyatt Marrakech. It's quite a story of persistence and overcoming multifaceted challenges that you are usually the first to brand when you find one:
2009-2010: The global financial crisis severely impacted funding and investment flows, causing initial delays in securing the necessary capital for the project.
2011-2012: Construction officially began but faced delays due to the slow recovery of the global economy and changing regulatory approval issues.
2013-2015: Design revisions to meet new market conditions and technical construction challenges further delayed progress. Workforce shortages and labor disputes also contributed to the slow pace, like other countries.
2016: Regional economic instability and political factors affected the project's continuity as the country was dealing with parliamentary elections, leading to a fragmented political landscape and delays in forming a government.
2017-2018: Minor natural disasters, including flooding and seismic activities, caused temporary halts and required additional safety measures.
2019-2020: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global supply chains, labor availability, and on-site construction activities, leading to more delays.
2021-2022: Continued supply chain disruptions impacted the availability of construction materials and equipment. Hyatt's determination to maintain the quality of the offering prevented them from utilizing lower-quality products.
2023: The year of final touches and planning for the opening of a major addition to the group, while the industry faced a lot of unknowns and ambiguity.
Finally, in 2024, the Park Hyatt Marrakech officially opened its doors at the most optimal timing possible, considering ongoing events in Europe and the Middle East, which are major source markets.
This detailed timeline highlights the complexity and persistence required to bring such a luxury project to fruition. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Marrakech and Casablanca boast other luxury accommodations offering unparalleled experiences. In Marrakech, The Oberoi and Mandarin Oriental are excellent options, while in Casablanca, the newly renovated Royal Mansour provides ultra-luxury stays before heading to Marrakech to enjoy its riads.
Just to clarify, I’m not biased towards Hyatt as I’m loyal to another group, but I’m definitely biased towards the country being Moroccan from Casablanca.
As always, it's a pleasure reading your insights. I wish we could have a German or European version of OMAAT—such an amazing value add you bring to everyone.